Splendors of Georgia & Armenia

May 15-30, 2015

Led by Dr. Tasha Vorderstrasse, research associate, AM'98, PhD'04

Join us on a unique tour of the archaeology, landscape, and culture of Georgia and Armenia on this joint departure with the Oriental Institute and the University of Chicago Alumni and Friends. The South Caucasus is a complex land of contrasts–filled with many languages, peoples, and cultures–and this tour will examine its full history, allowing you to fully experience the region. In Georgia, you will visit archaeological sites, view medieval Byzantine wall paintings and visit Stalin's birthplace in Gori. In Armenia, visit prehistoric standing stones, the magnificent Roman temple of Garni, and medieval monasteries. Explore the rich heritage of both these countries through their world-famous music and cuisine.

For additional information about the tour, call the Oriental Institute on 773.702.9513 or email oi-membership@uchicago.edu. For questions about bookings, call Archaeological Tours at 866.740.5130 or email archtours@aol.com.

Tasha Vorderstrasse, AM'98, PhD'04, is a research associate at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. She received her PhD from the University of Chicago in 2004 and was a research fellow at the Netherlands Institute for the Near East in Leiden before returning to Chicago in 2011. Her work focuses on the material culture of the Near East, Caucasus, and Central Asia and the interactions between these regions and China. In addition to her work as a research associate, she is also codirector of the Oriental Institute excavations in Amroyi, Armenia.